The Actor DIY's Acting School - Part IV

The IV & final installation of creating your DIY Acting School Experience

Hi Actor,

Over the last 3 weeks we covered how to create your very own acting school experience. We're not leaving our ambitions and dreams in the hands of the top acting schools to decide if we are destined for great things - we are deciding it for ourselves. We've looked at everything from the starting structure & initial commitment, all the way through to the end days of study & showcasing our work for the industry to see. If you haven't had the chance to read the previous posts - go back and start with Part I. If you're up to date then ... read on!

As I'm writing this I have decided to add one last consideration 😊

Where do you want to base yourself?

This is something to consider once you've dived into your studies and are approaching showcase. Consider where you want to work. Is the city you live in currently one that inspires you? Would you consider moving internationally to NYC or LA - perhaps the UK scene inspires you more? Go where you want to work. For more on this topic of "choosing a base" see this post HERE.

Recap

That's it - we covered everything. We've talked about a lot here, so lets recap on what needs to be done in order to put the power back into your own hands and DIY your very own Acting education.

Part I

• Go have a look at all the leading Acting Schools'/ Studios' course outlines to get a sense of industry standards of education.

  • Use this knowledge to decide on the subject matter you cover.

• Decide on a workload that suits your life by thinking about:

  • An overall duration of time to study.

  • How many hours per week do you want to commit to?

Part II

• Get your workspace and equipment in order before you start.

• Build a team of your very own "Hero" Faculty, Teachers and Mentors. These will be the guides that will help you through this DIY Acting School. Note: Ideally the teachers you go to should be aligned with the subject matter you wish to study. Go to a voice teacher to learn about voice etc.

Part III

• Film and review your own work as a way to grade your progress regarding skill development.

• Set up and have your resources ready to go before you begin.

  • Books, Podcasts, Movies, Plays, Monologue Collections...

• Build a community of creatives from all different disciplines of film/ theatre - Actors (But not just actors)... writers, directors, cinematographers, producers etc.

• Towards the end of our training we want to make sure we are showing people our work. Not just family and friends but industry pros. Get in front of both casting and general audiences.

• Finding quality industry work experience as either an actor or even a production assistant.

Part IV

• Find the location/ industry you want to work in. Base yourself there.

• Recap

Take control of your professional journey and create your very own Acting School experience. Make it something that you are both excited about and doesn’t send you into dept. We need it to be Motivating, Practical, Accessible, Sturdy & Dynamic, all the while allowing us the flexibility and time to network. You don't need the big schools to get you the success you are destined for. Go out and learn it all yourself. I'm kind of feeling like Will Hunting! You?

Have any questions? Contact me directly on lachlanstuartactor@gmail.com or leave a comment below (Don't forget to mention your name in the space provided! 😊)!

Talk soon,

Lachy

Lachlan is an Australian Actor who has been working within the industry nearing a decade. He’s worked in Film & Theatre.